Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has affirmed that the upcoming national election will take place by February 15, dismissing speculation of a delay.

“Differences are natural when multiple parties exist. Otherwise, why would separate parties form? But the election will definitely be held by February 15,” he said while visiting the village home of poet Farrukh Ahmed.

Alam emphasized that attempts to disrupt the election would not succeed. “This is a foundational election. It will set the course for future polls and guide Bangladesh’s political journey forward,” he quoted the Chief Advisor as saying earlier.

He expressed optimism that the 13th National Parliamentary Election will be held in a peaceful, fair, and festive atmosphere. Pointing to the recently concluded DUCSU polls as an encouraging sign, he said security will be ensured with the deployment of nearly 800,000 members of police, BGB, and Ansar.

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, senior judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, has been appointed Acting Chief Justice in the absence of Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, who is abroad on an official tour.

According to a Ministry of Law notification, Justice Chowdhury will serve as Acting Chief Justice from September 9 to September 22—or until Justice Ahmed resumes his duties—during his visit to Brazil and Qatar.

The Election Commission has confirmed that counting of votes in the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) election is progressing. Seventeen hours after polling ended, results from 17 out of 21 residential halls have been finalized.

The university has 11 male halls and 10 female halls. With four halls left, officials expect the counting to conclude by midday. Once the hall-level results are declared, the central union vote count will begin.

Due to manual counting, the process is taking longer than anticipated. Authorities estimate that the final results of the JUCSU election will likely be available in the evening.

Polling took place yesterday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Although the Election Commission initially planned to use OMR technology for counting, objections raised by several student panels, including Chhatra Dal, led to the process being conducted manually.

The All-Party United Committee has unveiled a new program demanding the reinstatement of four parliamentary seats in Bagerhat.

Following a two-day strike that ended Thursday evening, the committee announced a series of demonstrations beginning Sunday. On Friday, imams will raise awareness during Jummah prayers. On Sunday, activists will stage sit-ins outside government offices and courts at district and upazila levels.

From Monday to Wednesday, a dawn-to-dusk strike will be enforced. Educational institutions will remain closed, but exemptions will apply between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily. Emergency services, law enforcement vehicles, two-wheelers, fresh produce markets, grocery shops, hospitals, pharmacies, ambulances, and essential goods will remain outside the strike’s scope.

Doha witnessed a solemn funeral on Thursday for the victims of an Israeli airstrike, with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in attendance.

Among the six victims, five were Palestinians, whose bodies were draped in Palestinian flags. The sixth was a member of Qatar’s armed forces, honored with the national flag. The deceased were laid to rest at the Mesaimeer cemetery.

The September 9 Israeli airstrike targeted senior Hamas leaders, all of whom survived. However, among the dead was the son of Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya. Reports suggest the strike was aimed at assassinating Khalil and his associates.

A crucial meeting of the National Consensus Commission, chaired by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, was held to review proposals aimed at implementing the July Charter.

The two-hour-long meeting discussed both the commission’s recommendations and submissions from political parties. Members confirmed that a detailed report would soon be submitted to the interim government. The commission is scheduled to hold further talks with political parties this Sunday.

A six-member subcommittee also presented its recommendations on implementing the July Charter.

Emphasizing the government’s core mandate of reforms, Chief Advisor Yunus said, “The July Charter must be treated with the same seriousness as elections and justice. The upcoming national election in February is not just another poll—it is a foundational election that will shape the future of Bangladesh.” He stressed that essential reforms must be finalized before the February elections, which he described as unavoidable.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned 12 senior officials, including two former commissioners, over allegations of violating rules in the allocation of luxury flats in Dhanmondi.

Among those called for questioning are former ACC Commissioners Mozammel Haque Khan and Zahurul Haque, along with former secretaries Md. Yunusur Rahman and M.A. Kader, who are scheduled to appear on September 17. Former IDRA Chairman Dr. M. Aslam Alam, former secretary Aktari Momtaz, and Md. Sirajul Haque Khan are to appear on September 18. Additionally, former Registrar Aminul Islam, former Director General of Secondary and Higher Education Prof. Nehal Ahmed, former secretaries Md. Anisur Rahman, and former senior secretary S.M. Golam Faruk have been summoned for September 21.

The allegations relate to the 2018 national parliamentary election, where these officials reportedly received luxury flats as rewards for facilitating “daytime voting conducted at night.” The ACC is investigating whether the allocation of these flats breached official policies and ethical guidelines.

The Sylhet Metropolitan Police launched the mobile app ‘GenieA’ to make the city safer, smarter, and more modern. The app provides location sharing, notifications, complaint tracking, and one-click emergency police assistance. Commissioner Abdul Khuddus Chowdhury stated the app aims to build trust between citizens and police and will eventually include features like a help desk for women and children, prevention of child abduction and domestic violence, drone surveillance, legal support, and blockchain-based evidence protection. He emphasized that achieving a safe and modern Sylhet requires citizen participation. Meanwhile, Mohammad Anwarul Haque has been promoted to Sylhet Range DIG.

A court has barred 286 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, from leaving the country over allegations of participating in a “Joy Bangla Brigade” Zoom meeting to overthrow the government and engage in anti-state activities. According to the court’s process server, Enamul Haque, the request for the travel ban was filed by CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Enamul Haque. The court granted the request to prevent individuals in Bangladesh from fleeing and to detain those abroad if they return.

Bangladesh’s unusually high spectrum fees and taxes are hindering mobile network investment, slowing internet speeds, and delaying 5G expansion, according to a GSMA report. Operators spend 16% of revenues on spectrum—double the global average—while total financial burdens reach 55%, among the world’s highest. The report warns that continuing high prices could worsen connectivity by 2035. It recommends lowering fees, releasing new bands, simplifying taxes, and offering long-term licenses to unlock billions in economic benefits and expand digital inclusion.

Adviser Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan has revealed that he is under pressure to halt existing gas supplies to households.

Speaking to reporters, he said: “There will be no new gas connections for households. In fact, there’s pressure on me to cut the supply that households already receive. But I refuse to do it—if I did, I wouldn’t be able to enter my own home.”

He further clarified that despite global price concerns, the cost of imported LNG will not rise for now. “Earlier, there was a government plan to hike gas and electricity prices every two to three months. But over the past year, we have not increased prices for either electricity or gas,” he added.

Late Wednesday night in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar, local criminals opened fire on a police patrol, injuring three officers, including ASI Md. Selim. Two of the injured are in critical condition. The attack occurred near the new connecting bridge at Afzalia Para, where a criminal-extortion gang has been active. Police and RAB launched joint operations, rescuing the injured and recovering several illegal weapons. Authorities continue efforts to apprehend those responsible while the injured receive hospital treatment.

Contrary to earlier media reports, the wife of former Nepali Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal is alive but in critical condition after being severely burned in an arson attack during protests in Kathmandu.

Rajyalakshmi Chitrakar was trapped inside the family home when demonstrators set it ablaze. While several outlets had prematurely reported her death, corrected statements confirm she survived but with life-threatening injuries as most of her body was burned.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam confirmed that the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) and hall union elections were conducted peacefully. The Advisors’ Council expressed gratitude to the Home Affairs Adviser for ensuring a fair and orderly election.

He added that the Chief Adviser emphasized decentralization of local government, strengthening of institutions, and the establishment of an independent police investigation commission.

Other updates included:

The national football team’s return journey from Nepal.

Progress in medical education reforms with 51 initiatives implemented and 246 ongoing.

Tax exemptions granted for seagoing vessels up to 5,000 DWT.

The Foreign Affairs Adviser’s upcoming participation in an OIC meeting on September 15.

A powerful partial monsoon circulation, named Eshan-2, is expected to remain active across several parts of Bangladesh between September 14 and 19.

The monsoon trough currently extends from Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and central Bangladesh to Assam, with a branch stretching into the northern Bay of Bengal. Meteorologists anticipate intensified rainfall in northern Bangladesh even before the system fully sets in.

According to BWOT, Eshan-2 will be most active in Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions. However, its broader effect will also help ease the prevailing sweltering heat across the rest of the country.